Babes in Arms Overview:

Babes in Arms (1939) was a Musical - Comedy Film directed by Busby Berkeley and produced by Arthur Freed.

SYNOPSIS

Showbiz musical directed by Hollywood surrealist Berkeley paired Rooney and Garland for the first time as the children of former vaudevillians who team up to put on a Really Big Show to raise money for their folks. Lots of singing and dancing, with both kids doing uncanny impersonations of then-current celebrities and political figures. Includes the title song and "You Are My Lucky Star."

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

.

Academy Awards 1939 --- Ceremony Number 12 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorMickey RooneyNominated
Best Music - ScoringGeorge E. Stoll, Roger EdensNominated
.

BlogHub Articles:

Babes in Arms (1939)

on Jul 25, 2016 From Journeys in Classic Film

The final week of the July Four gets musical with those lovable scamps Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. The third film the two musical dynamos made, Babes in Arms was Warner Bros. biggest moneymaker for the year, beating out the other Judy Garland movie out, a little film called The Wizard of Oz that... Read full article


The Essential Films of 1939: Babes in Arms

By Amanda Garrett on Dec 29, 2014 From Old Hollywood Films

Mickey and Judy put on a show in Babes in Arms. The Director: Busby Berkeley. The Stars: Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Source Material: The Broadway musical Babes in Arms by Richard Rodger and Lorenz Hart. A watchful Mickey Rooney oversees Judy Garland placing her handprints outside... Read full article


Babes in Arms (1939)

By Beatrice on Feb 23, 2014 From Flickers in Time

Babes in Arms Directed by Busby Berkeley Written by Jack McGowan and Kay Van Riper based on the play by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart 1939/USA Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer First viewing/Netflix rental #140 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die I love both movie musicals and Judy Garland but I couldn... Read full article


Classic Films in Focus: BABES IN ARMS (1939)

By Jennifer Garlen on Jun 20, 2013 From Virtual Virago

The Busby Berkeley musical Babes in Arms (1939) proved an important moment in Mickey Rooney’s career; his role as showbiz hopeful Mickey Moran earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor, in a year when the competition included Clark Gable for Gone with the Wind, Laurence Olivier for ... Read full article


Classic Films in Focus: BABES IN ARMS (1939)

By Jennifer Garlen on Jun 20, 2013 From Virtual Virago

The Busby Berkeley musical Babes in Arms (1939) proved an important moment in Mickey Rooney’s career; his role as showbiz hopeful Mickey Moran earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor, in a year when the competition included Clark Gable for Gone with the Wind, Laurence Olivier for ... Read full article


See all Babes in Arms articles

Quotes from

No Quote for this film.

Facts about

Footage from earlier Mickey Rooney film, _Broadway to Hollywood (1939)_, is seen to show flashbacks of Mickey Moran, Rooney's character, as a child performing in vaudeville.
MGM Studio's biggest money grosser of 1939, surpassing The Wizard of Oz for that production year.
"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30-minute CBS Radio adaptation of the movie on November 9, 1941 with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland reprising their film roles.
read more facts about Babes in Arms...
Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
Best Actor Oscar 1939






See more Best Actor awards>>
Also directed by Busby Berkeley




More about Busby Berkeley >>
Also produced by Arthur Freed




More about Arthur Freed >>
Related Lists
Create a list




See All Related Lists >>
Also released in 1939




See All 1939 films >>
More "Based on Play" films



See All "Based on Play" films >>
More "Show Business" films



See All "Show Business" films >>
More "Busby Berkeley" films



See All "Busby Berkeley" films >>